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 Head Coach Naomi Graves
When Naomi Graves arrived at Springfield College in 1991, the women’s basketball team had won nine games in the previous three seasons combined. Under the watchful eye of Graves, the program is now one of the best in New England.
Entering her 18th season as head coach and assistant professor of physical education in 2008-09, Graves has directed her squads to an impressive 250-106 record (.702 winning percentage) since joining the Division III ranks in 1995. Graves has led the Pride to eleven post-season bids in the past 13 years, including five berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament in the past eight years. Graves’ squad has also won five New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championships in the past seven years, and she has also been honored with three NEWMAC Coach of the Year Awards.
In May of 2008, Graves was one of 30 coaches selected from around the country to attend the 2008 NCAA Women Coaches Academy in Denver, Colo. The Academy provides skills training for coaches at all levels to assist them in being more efficient, productive, resourceful and successful. While at the Academy, Graves was honored as a co-recipient of the Judy Sweet Award, which was voted on by her peers. The award recognizes members of the Denver Academy Class who's spirit and willingness to share and live her story with integrity and perspective for her own and others personal and professional success has made an impact.
In 2005-06, Graves earned her third NEWMAC Coach-of-the-Year award leading her team to a 22-7 overall record, and the regular season NEWMAC title. The Pride cruised to its fifth NEWMAC championship in six years. In advancing to the NCAA tournament, the Pride fell short against a talented Messiah (Pa.) squad in the first round.
The 2004-2005 season ranks as one of Graves’ best seasons. The team started with a very respectable 8-4 record, but finished the season 17-2 in its last 19 games, winning both the regular-season and post-season NEWMAC titles. The season came to an end with a loss to Southern Maine in the NCAA Division III Elite 8. This was the Pride's most impressive run in NCAA tournament play in the school's history. On the season, the Pride tied the school record with 25 wins.
The 2002-2003 squad managed to overcome its first four-game losing streak in eight seasons to capture its third straight NEWMAC title with three straight wins in the NEWMAC tournament. Springfield lost in the first round of the NCAA Div. III Tournament. The Pride finished with an impressive 20-9 record.
Expectations were high for Graves’ 2001-2002 squad and SC delivered. The Pride won its second consecutive NEWMAC regular-season and tournament titles, marking just the third time in NEWMAC history that a team had won back-to-back regular season and tournament crowns. Springfield advanced to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Division III Tournament before bowing out to Bowdoin. SC set a school record for wins (25), established a school mark for consecutive victories (17) and became the first team in the history of the NEWMAC to win nine conference games. For her efforts, Naomi was named the conference’s coach of the year.
In 2000-2001, SC rolled to the NEWMAC Championship and its first berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. SC posted a 24-5 mark and registered a 14-0 record at Blake Arena. Graves stocked up on post-season hardware, winning NEWMAC and New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) Division III Coach-of-the-Year honors.
Graves received her bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Rhode Island in 1982. She was captain of the basketball team and scored 1,862 career points (second best in school history) while receiving URI Female Athlete-of-the-Year honors as a senior. Graves was named to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) All-American team as a senior, and was an All-New England selection in each of her four years with the Rams. She was inducted into the URI Athletics Hall of Fame on October 20, 1995.
Graves served one year as an assistant basketball coach at URI before attending graduate school at Springfield College where she earned her master’s degree in physical education in 1985. She also was a women’s graduate assistant coach for two seasons.
Graves served as president of the Women’s Basketball Association in 1986 and was a member of the ECAC Selection Committee for three years. Graves is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and was the District 1 representative for the NCAA Division III Coach-of-the-Year committee. She also a member of the New England Women's Basketball Coaches Association (NEWBA).
A native of Williamsburg, Mass., Graves ranks among the state’s all-time basketball greats. As a senior at Hampshire Regional High School, she averaged 23 points and 17 rebounds and was named a high school All-American. Graves led her squad to four state championships and earned an unprecedented three MVP Awards at the Western Massachusetts State Tournament. Graves was the Western Massachusetts scoring leader with 2,137 career points until former Southwick High star (and UConn All-American) Rebecca Lobo broke her record.
On Nov. 26, 1999, the Springfield Union-News ranked Graves 36th on its list of the top 100 Western Massachusetts Athletes of the Century.
Graves' All-Time Coaching Record
| Season
| Wins
| Losses
| School
|
| 1985-86
| 13
| 10
| WPI
|
| 1986-87
| 17
| 9
| WPI
|
| 1987-88
| 5
| 20
| WPI
|
| 1988-89
| 10
| 16
| WPI
|
| 1989-90
| 13
| 15
| WPI
|
| 1990-91
| 10
| 13
| WPI
|
| 1991-92
| 2
| 23
| Springfield
|
| 1992-93
| 3
| 22
| Springfield
|
| 1993-94
| 2
| 22
| Springfield
|
| 1994-95
| 6
| 18
| Springfield
|
| 1995-96
| 14
| 11
| Springfield
|
| 1996-97
| 18
| 7
| Springfield
|
| 1997-98
| 16
| 9
| Springfield
|
| 1998-99
| 20
| 6
| Springfield
|
| 1999-00
| 18
| 8
| Springfield
|
| 2000-01
| 24
| 5
| Springfield
|
| 2001-02
| 25
| 4
| Springfield
|
| 2002-03
| 20
| 9
| Springfield
|
| 2003-04
| 18
| 11
| Springfield
|
| 2004-05
| 25
| 6
| Springfield
|
| 2005-06
| 22
| 7
| Springfield
|
| 2006-07
| 14
| 12
| Springfield
|
| 2007-08
| 16
| 11
| Springfield
|
| 23 seasons
| 331
| 274
| .547 winning percentage
|
| 17 seasons (at SC)
| 263
| 191
| .579 winning percentage
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Graves' Tournament Appearances
| Season
| Tournament
|
| 1986-87, WPI
| ECAC Champions
|
| 1995-96, SC
| ECAC Championship
|
| 1996-97, SC
| ECAC Championship
|
| 1997-98, SC
| ECAC Championship
|
| 1998-99, SC
| ECAC Championship
|
| 1999-00, SC
| ECAC Championship
|
| 2000-01, SC
| NEWMAC Champions, NCAA Tournament
|
| 2001-02, SC
| NEWMAC Champions, NCAA Tourn. Sweet 16
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| 2002-03, SC
| NEWMAC Champions, NCAA Tournament
|
| 2003-04, SC
| NEWMAC Runner-up, ECAC Tournament
|
| 2004-05, SC
| NEWMAC Regular Season Co-Champions, NEWMAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament Elite 8
|
| 2005-06, SC
| NEWMAC Regular Season Champions, NEWMAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament
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